Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



R. R. MOFFATT;

Breech-Loading Ordnance.

No. 35,863 Patented July 8, 1862.

N PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTONv D. C.

UNiTEn STATES PATENT Price.

R. It. MOFFATT, 6F LA CROSSE, WISGQNSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND HANNAH HORTLY, OF SAME PLACE;

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,863, dated July 8, 1862.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, R. R. 1VIOFFATT, of La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Ordnance; and I do hereby declare that the following is a'full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a top View of a cannon with my improvement attached; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cannon and a longitudinal section through the breech-strap, taken on the line A of Fig. 1.

The object of my invention is to increase the efficiency and simplicity of breech -loading cannon.

It consists of a novel method of securing and operating the breech-piece, so as to secure it against the escape of gas, and so that it may be readily removed and carried off whenever it may be necessary to abandon. the gun to the enemy.

The following description of my improvements will enable any one skilled in the art to which they appertain to make and use them.

Like letters of reference represent like parts of the different figures of the drawings referred to.

The gun is represented by A, and the bore of it is represented by dotted lines a a, and is carried all the way through from end to end. The rear end of the bore is enlarged, so as to form a conical chamber, as shown by the dotted lines I) b. I

The breech-pin is represented by G. It is like the frustum of a cone, with a concave made in its upper end,as represented by a curved dotted line. Said breech-pin forms a part of the breech-piece E, which is hinged to the rear end of the gun at f. The breechpin is made so as to exactly fit the corresponding chamber in the breech of the gun, and has a groove cut-around its base, as represented by dotted lines 12, into which the shoulder 9 accurately fits.

The trunnions ofthe gun are represented by I. They have their bearings in the strap B, which extends back, so as to embrace the breech of the gunin the manner shown in Fig.

der the gun by means of a cross-piece, N, in

which the pivot J is fixed, about which thegun and strap swing horizontally on the carriage or truck, so as to sweep the horizon. The rear end of the strap is supported by a screw, the upper end of which is pinned in a socket, (shown by U,) and the lower end works in a screw-socket, which travels in a circular metal groove fixed to the carriage. The screw and carriage are not shown by the drawings. They make no part of this application, and are only referred to here for a better understanding of the working of the improvements about to be claimed.

A lever is represented by G, which is made so as to span the rear end of the strap, and which has its fulcrum at e, and is attached to the gun on a pivot at (l by means of the link R, pivoted to the lever. ver is to raise and lower the breech of the gun. Then it is thrown up in the position shown in Fig. 2, the breech-piece and pin are drawn back by the chain H, which is united to the breech-piece and lever, the breech-piece falling down on the strap, so as to be entirely out of the way of the introduction of the cartridge. After the cartridge has been introduced, the lever is raised and the breech of the gun brought down in the strap, forcing the breechpiece between the breech of the gun and the inside faceof the strap, as shown in Fig. 1. The breech-piece is made wedge-shaped, and the inside face of the strap is made of a corresponding shape, so as to jam the piece solid against the breech of the gun.

P P represent lugs cast on the breechof the gun. The front sides of these lugs are sloped a little from the top downward and backward, and are made to fit in correspondingly-formed recesses F, cut in the inside of the strap B, so that when the breech of the gun is brought down it is wedged back against the breechpiece, thus relieving the trunnions of all strain when the gun is fired and compensating for any wear of the trunnions or breech-piece.

I do not claim the arrangement or combination of the hinged breech-piece and tilting barrel found in the patents granted to M. J. Gallager and .Wm. H. Gladding, July 12, 1859, and O. D. Schubarth, July 23, 1861; but,

The object of thisle- 3. In combination with the breech of th: gun and the strapB, the lugs P and recesses Having now described the manner of making and applying my improvements in breechloading cannon, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In combination with the breech of the gun, the hinged breech piece and pin and strap B, substantiallyin the manner described, for piece, the shoulder g, substantially in the manthe purpose specified. I ner described,. for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the lever O and R. R. MOFFATT. hinged breech-piece, the chain H, substantially gnthe manner described, for the purpose specithe purpose specified. v

4. In combination with the breech of the Witnesses:

AMos BROADNAX, HENRIETTA G. BROADNAX.

F, substantially in themanner described, for v gun and the circular rgroove o in the breech- 

